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Evidence summaries

Setting and Organization of Care for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS

Settings of care with high volume of HIV positive patient and models of care with case management may improve patient mortality and other outcomes in persons with HIV infection. Level of evidence: "C"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 28 studies with a total of 39 776 study subjects. The studies indicated that case management strategies and higher hospital and ward volume of HIV-positive patients were associated with decreased mortality. Case management was also associated with increased receipt of antiretrovirals. The results for multidisciplinary teams or multi-faceted treatment varied. None of the studies examined quality of life or immunological or virological outcomes. Healthcare utilization outcomes were mixed.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by limitations in study quality and by inconsistency (heterogeneity in interventions and outcomes).

    References

    • Handford CD, Tynan AM, Rackal JM, Glazier RH. Setting and organization of care for persons living with HIV/AIDS. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006 Jul 19;3:CD004348. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords